Texas is one of the Southern States and is also known as the Lone Star State. It is second only to Alaska in size and, as you can imagine, there are many things to see and do. That’s why we decided to suggest a selection of the best attractions, to give you an idea of what to expect: we’ll range from wonderful natural sites to cultural ones and finally the most beautiful beaches to relax on (yes, in Texas there are also beaches!) in order to satisfy all tastes.
PS: in this article we decided to focus on specific attractions, while instead, I point you towards my article on the cities of Texas. Here you won’t even find the Route 66 sights, which we have already collected in our guide on how to visit Route 66 in Texas.
Map of Texas’ best attractions
Natural Sites
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Located in the western part of Texas near the border with Colorado, the Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the Guadalupe Peek, which at 8530 feet is the highest peak in the state and from the top of which you can enjoy a splendid 360-degree view of all of the surrounding Texas area.
There are many hiking trails, including ones just for one day, that will bring you into direct contact with nature: the two most famous trails are the Devil’s Hall Trail that will take you through the canyon gorges and the Guadalupe Peak Trail, as you can guess from the name, will allow you to reach the top of the mountain.
Padre Island National Seashore
From the highest peak in Texas, we totally change the landscape and we move along the coast where beaches await us that extend as far as the eye can see (and if you are equipped with a 4×4 car you can also drive along some sections). The special feature that this park is known for is the presence of numerous sea turtles.
Depending on the month in which you visit the park, you will find different events, ranging from nesting in the period from April to August, to the hatching of eggs with dozens of turtles then making the path that divides the beach from the Gulf of Mexico. This usually occurs six to eight weeks after the eggs are laid. For this reason it is very useful to visit the official website of the park where you can find updates about the best dates to attend this spectacle of nature.
Natural Bridge Caverns
If you are an experienced caver, this attraction located in the immediate vicinity of San Antonio is definitely the one for you. There are many tours inside the two large natural caves to satisfy all tastes (and all budgets). The complex also features a playground with an attached zipper line, which makes this place especially recommended if you’re a family with kids in tow.
Big Bend National Park
To reach this park we have to move southward where the Rio Grande flows, marking the border with Mexico and making this park extremely interesting to visit not only for the erosion and the beautiful views it has created over the centuries but also for the activities it offers to visitors. In addition to the classic walking tours, if you have the right car, this park offers many scenic routes that can be enjoyed without too much effort.
If you are a sports-loving tourist and you love canoes, you may consider a trip of a few hours or even a few days along the river. The international border between Mexico and the United States is exactly in the middle of the Rio Grande, so it is very likely that you will cross it several times during your canoe trip. Don’t worry, however, it will not be considered a problem. On the contrary, landing along the Mexican coast of the river, unless there are safety reasons to consider, will be considered an illegal border crossing with all that it implies, so be careful. To learn more read our guide on what to do at Big Bend National Park.
Palo Duro Canyon
Located south of the city of Amarillo (where Cadillac Ranch is located), so a perfect stop if you are traveling Route 66. The various shades of colors from green to deep red are the main feature of this park. If you have yet to visit the most famous parks in the United States and Palo Duro is on your itinerary, you can consider it as a “small” anticipation of what awaits you when you continue on your adventure. Read our guide on how to visit Palo Duro Canyon.
Hamilton Pool Preserve
A beautiful natural swimming pool about an hour away from Austin is the perfect place to take a walk and enjoy a very special view. If the season allows, you can also take a swim but this is not always allowed, so the advice is to keep an eye on the official website to see whether or not there are restrictions on swimming. To preserve the natural habitat, the number of visitors is also limited, so to avoid being in the unpleasant situation of having to go back, especially during the summer season, it might be very useful to make a reservation via the official channels.
Cultural sites
The USS Lexington – Corpus Christi
An aircraft carrier used primarily in the Pacific during World War II. Her nickname Blue Ghost dates back to this period, due to the fact that whenever the Japanese navy thought she had sunk she always reappeared intact. Today it has been turned into a museum and can also be visited inside by going to the small town of Corpus Christi in South Texas. It is a great attraction to consider especially if you are traveling with children in tow, as there is a flight simulator, a 3D cinema and many video games.
Dallas Museum of Art
Although we don’t tend to associate Texas with the history of art, you’ll have to think again when you visit this museum. Located in the Dallas Art District, it houses numerous collections ranging from purely American art, with some works by Hopper and Georgia O’ Keeffe, to European art. Also of note is the presence of numerous works by Italian artists including Canaletto, Canova, Modigliani and De Chirico.
Space Center – Houston
Together with the Alamo, this is perhaps the most famous attraction in all of Texas, so it is definitely worth a visit, whether you are passionate about science or just curious. The complex that houses the Space Center Houston is very large, so unless you want to miss something, visiting everything in its entirety will take a lot of time.
However, you can’t miss the Starship Gallery, which will allow you to touch a real specimen of moon rock and take a trip to discover the most famous artifacts of the discovery of space, including the Apollo 17 command module.
On a kind of internal train you can visit the real NASA in the Johnson Space Center, where the operations of the International Space Station are still monitored and astronauts prepare for the missions they will undertake. The triptych of these must-sees concludes at Independence Plaza, where you can see a replica of the shuttle Independence, mounted on an original Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, both of which can be visited. The Space Center is a little outside Houston, and unless you have a rental car, it is not easily accessible by public transportation, so plan carefully how and when to include it in your itinerary.
The Sixth Floor Museum – Dallas
Before November 22, 1963, the building located in Dealey Plaza was just an anonymous school book warehouse, but when Lee Harvey Oswald chose the sixth-floor window to shoot President Kennedy at 12.30 on that day, it became one of the most famous places in the United States.
Today the building houses a museum that traces the private and political life of one of the most beloved and controversial presidents of the USA through video reconstructions, audio guides, and photographic material, and, if it does not seem too macabre, you can see (but obviously not overlook) the window from where the history of the world was changed.
In the square in front of the building, in addition to some conspirators who propagate alternative truths, there are numerous testimonies of what happened, and you cannot help but notice a white X painted on the road. Whatever you think, that’s the exact point where Kennedy was shot.
The Alamo – San Antonio
We have already spoken in more detail about this place that was the scene of the most famous episode of the war of independence of Texas from Mexico in our article on Fort Alamo. However, we also point it out here because it is undoubtedly a destination to take into account if you are planning your trip.
Texas Beaches
When you think of beaches in America the first places that come to mind are California (have you already checked out our article on the best beaches in California?) and Florida (here is our selection of the best beaches in Florida), but Texas too, with its coastline that extends for hundreds of miles, has many solutions for those looking for some relaxation. Among the many options, here we highlight three in particular:
- Padre Island is a real island that extends along the Texas coast for about 120 miles and is separated from it by the Laguna Madre. It has a dual personality capable of satisfying all holiday spirits; in fact, its central part houses the already mentioned nature reserve of Padre Island National Seashore where primordial nature is the master. To the south, you will find the city of South Padre Island, famous for its luxury hotels, its tourist attractions and for being the perfect place to observe dolphins.
- Boca Chica State Park located in the deep south of Texas, on the border with Mexico, near the city of Brownsville, is the perfect place for those who do not like crowds and prefer the coast where the only two services are the sea and the beach.
- Surfside Beach just an hour’s drive from Houston, as you can guess from the name, is particularly suitable for those who have surfing in their blood, since historically it is one of the beaches preferred by locals to practice the famous sport.
